Marta Barber

Despite its stylistic flaws, the acting and the magic of the story make Maelstrom a different kind of film.

The filmmaker may not appeal to large numbers of filmgoers. But if you get his humor and delicate style, you'll enjoy his latest work.

Holds enough interest throughout to keep you entertained -- unless you're afraid of mice.

The star is the coming together of East and West, and how art provides the medium.

While the story starts tying up its loose ends nicely, as the end approaches, the film turns flat. It's a disappointment.

Although Leconte allows for a certain warmth to run through the film, he thankfully stays away from sentimentality. Therein lays the charm.

Some scenes drag, but Seagull's Laughter is still delightful.

An unexpected ode to peace.

Medem may have disrobed most of the cast, leaving their bodies exposed, but the plot remains as guarded as a virgin with a chastity belt. That's why Sex and Lucía is so alluring.

That the film avoids the conflicts making the daily headlines out of Israel is one good reason why James' Journey, though not very well made, is interesting.

Not only does the fragmented delivery become trying, but also the behind-the-camera dialogue and city shots with heavy Parisian traffic numb the senses. And as beautiful as it looks, there's really nothing new coming out of the lens of the revered Godard.

But by the time you understand the meaning of its title, Sabiha Sumar's film has delivered an emotional punch.

Though difficult to understand at times, the language -- a combination of local patois and the characters' particular Indian accent -- is as lush as the cinematography.

The film has good actors and enough quirky moments to keep it interesting.

Deep down, this is a film about childhood dreams and the determination to make those dreams come true. With such a positive message, you can't help yodeling on your exit from the theater.

Much like the good westerns, Coastlines keeps you entertained throughout its two hours, which says a lot about Nunez's storytelling.

Farmanara bears his soul, and his honesty permeates this work as strongly as the smell of camphor.

May disappoint those who expect a more traditional Chinese setting. But, despite its modern look, this is far from being a Western film.

An engaging and powerful portrayal of puberty gone awry.

The beauty of Huo Ji Anqi's film transcends China's lush Hunan province to focus on the peace that comes from within.

Don't try to figure Emilia's family out. Just sit back and let this family scrapbook move along.

A captivating documentary.

Admirers of the author will find in Edmond all the elements that turned Mamet into a favorite.

The camera work is impressive, his sense of humor sharp, and the characters are well defined. The story leaves something to be desired, but that doesn't mean you won't find situations or lines to enjoy in the comedy. [20 Oct 2006, p.G15]

This is courtroom drama at is best, especially when you listen to the sublime soundtrack.

Doesn't stretch beyond the typical, period drama the Brits do so well. It is no more than a warm cup of tea on a chilly afternoon. The reward comes in seeing these two great actresses at work.

Though beautiful at times, it doesn't reach the level of poetry of either de Sica's "Thief" or Lou's "River."

The War Within is dark and somber, adjectives that describe both the film's look and its message.

An engrossing psychological thriller.

Mildly engaging.

Cheese is written with plenty of sophisticated wit, but it is not quite convincing as a movie.

Had the film been more balanced, it would have added a new star to the recent wave of remarkable Mexican cinema.

Under the Sun doesn't intend to be dramatic, much less melodramatic. This beautiful film just wants to capture life's simplicity.

The Iceberg is a riot, a quintessential French comedy with an improbable plot and an unbelievable cast of characters.

Far removed from being a Hollywood production. There are no big-name actors and no fancy camera work. But that's what makes it interesting.

Go for Zucker is far from a perfect film but it brings easy laughter and joy.

May not offer anything new, but in its well-tested premise, you can't fail to be seduced.

Ultimately feels like tiny films glued together by events that often test plausibility. The idea wears thin soon, and some of the characters and their tales get lost in the unstoppable domino chain.

What appears to be the thrust of the story -- the unraveling of a society -- loses out to a tame, romantic triangle subplot.

Nothing in it -- plot, dialogue or character development -- reaches today's standards of filmmaking.

In between all the emotional seesawing, it's hard to figure the depth of these two literary figures, and even the times in which they lived. But they fascinate in their recklessness.

This is an affair to forget.

Fails to capture the anguish and struggles of an ultra-Orthodox Jew adapting to a more secular world as did Amos Gitai's Kadosh, a film this one sometimes brings to mind.

Light as the film may be, My Wife Is An Actress is not devoid of charm. It's like a summer book: quick, enjoyable and, mostly, easily forgotten.

Has an elegant feel, with beautiful shots on the beach and engaging camera work. If only Philip Jayson Lasker's writing could match that.

Dark Blue World's warm story and beautiful photography almost hits the mark, and it has a great ending.

Claire Dolan leaves you as unfulfilled as Claire feels after having sex with one of her johns.

While Cacoyannis' film may not be totally faithful to the master's pen, for literature students and theater lovers, this Cherry Orchard is a rare treat.

An enchanting romantic comedy between two lost souls in the most unexpected of places.

Going Shopping can make a wonderful outing for girlfriends. It's fun.

The Bank, despite its faulty finale, is a fun and thrilling ride.

As with many biopics, Richard is seen as the perfect hero, a man who singlehandedly changed the way the United States treats its disabled citizens. That's a bit of a stretch.

The biggest appeal of Passionada is Sofia Milos, a sexy actress who commands the screen in every scene she's in.

Will leave you taking sides, whether or not that was the film's intent.

House of Fools is not in the category of the director's acclaimed "Runaway Train." It may be based on a true story, but another filmmaker told it before -- and better.

Captures the essence of the period -- an intriguing, backward era in Spain -- but without the emotional impact that such a film requires.

One shallow film, that quickly returns to where it started: Zero.

Campfire looks a bit drab, perhaps to show the dullness of Zionist life in the 1980s. But this doesn't take away from the poignancy of the film.

Listening to O'Reilly, Anne Coulter and others vilify Franken -- and vice versa -- is part of the dialogue that makes America great.

Beautiful to look at but aimless as a broken compass.

Despite its flaws, The Gatekeeper will keep you engaged.

A mesmerizing documentary about the rise and fall of a drug lord, perhaps the biggest there ever was.

Unlike “Amélie,” Love Me If You Dare will not become a sleeper. But neither will it make you go to sleep.

The Situation is written by Wendell Steavenson, a reporter who served in Iraq, as a work of fiction. Its best quality is that the situation in Iraq appears to be sadly realistic.

Far from perfect, but for those willing to laugh at the darker side of life, especially Latin American life, it is fun.

A good story, but its potential is never realized.

This wacky, campy lampoon of 1950s Hollywood musicals is not for everyone.

What is evident from the film is that there was never any chance these two peoples could make a peaceful coexistence.

You come out with a sense you've seen it all before.

What you'll remember most are a pretty face and the hot and steamy sex scenes. That is not enough.

The intended satire doesn't deliver the kind of punch you may expect, but it nevertheless poses many what-ifs.